"It needed a mechanical machine to retrieve them, at large expense to South Holland IDB.

"The problem of the disposing of old tyres in this way is becoming more frequent and the help of the public is needed to report any suspicious activity or vehicles, especially at night.

"At the quarterly meetings of South Holland IDB, we hear about the rise in the amount of rubbish that is tipped into these important water courses which then has to be collected, at a cost to council tax payers.

The IDB spokesman said: "The tyres were dumped along the roadside section of Little South Holland Drain, upstream of St Catherines' Bridge, and we removed them last week.

"Dealing with fly-tipped rubbish is a constant issue for the Board."

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, the district council's portfolio holder for environmental services, said: "It's something we're trying to look at, as a Lincolnshire problem, on behalf of the IDBs.